who lost their loved ones in iraq and afghanistan. taryn davis was 21 when her husband, michael, was killed by a roadside bomb in iraq in 2007. >> one of the last things i said to him was i love you more than life itself. >> reporter: living without michael is an everyday struggle. >> when i went out into the world i just felt like they didn't want to embrace who i was. which was a military widow. and in the back of my mind, i'm thinking, that title, it symbolizes my husband's sacrifice and my own. and if i can get through it, maybe one day it can signify my survival. >> reporter: to help her own healing, taryn began reaching out to other widows. but talking alone wasn't enough. soon, taryn started organizing events, like parasailing. surfing, even swimming with dolphins. to bring this courageous group of women together in what she called the american widow project. >> i found myself laughing and smiling for the first time. and i look around and here's a group of extraordinary women. who know the level of pain that i've been through a